Powers of Local Governments

  1. Law
  2. Tennessee Code
  3. Public Finances
  4. Local Government Public Obligations Act of 1986
  5. General Provisions Applicable to All Bonds and Notes Issued by Local Governments
  6. Powers of Local Governments

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All local governments have the power and are authorized, either singly or jointly with any one (1) or more other local governments, local government instrumentalities, the state, or a state or federal agency or jointly with one (1) or more of the above, to:

  1. Engage in the construction of any public works project which may be constructed within or without the local government, or partially within and partially without the local government. However, no local government shall engage in the construction of a public works project wholly or partly within the legal boundaries of another local government, other than to perform maintenance on or make improvements to its existing public works projects in its service area, except with the consent of the governing body of the other local government; provided, that any county or metropolitan government may construct a public works project within a municipality within the county or metropolitan government without the permission of the governing body of the municipality;
  2. Operate and maintain any public works project for its own purpose or for the benefit and use of its inhabitants and, in the case of municipalities, also to operate and maintain such public works project for the benefit and use of the municipality and persons, firms and corporations therein and persons, firms and corporations, including municipal corporations, which are situated or whose residences or places of business are situated outside the territorial boundaries of the municipality but within the state and within a radius of twenty (20) miles from the territorial boundaries of the municipality; provided, that a joint project of any local government may, by agreement of the joint participants be operated or maintained, or both, by the local government itself, or by any one (1) of the other joint participants, or jointly by the local government and any one (1) or more of the joint participants, or jointly by any of the joint participants other than the local government;
    1. Contract debts for the construction of any public works project or for the local government's share of the cost of any joint public works project;
    2. Contract debts in order to make grants, donations, reimbursements or loans to one (1) or more local governments, local government instrumentalities, or utility districts for the construction of any public works project;
    3. Borrow money;
    4. Issue bonds or notes to finance such construction, grant, donation, reimbursement or loan;
    5. Provide for the rights of the holders of such bonds or notes; and
    6. Secure such bonds or notes as hereinafter provided;
  4. Pledge the full faith, credit and unlimited taxing power of the local government as to all taxable property in the local government or a portion of the local government, if applicable, to the punctual payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds or notes issued to finance any public works project, except bonds or notes and the interest thereon payable exclusively from revenues of a public works project;
  5. In the case of a county or metropolitan government which contains within its boundaries a special school district and/or incorporated city or town maintaining a public school system separate from the county or metropolitan government public school system, the tax pledge authorized by subdivision (4), when pledged to the payment of bonds or notes issued to finance the construction of public schools of the county or metropolitan government serving outside the territorial limits of such special school district and/or incorporated city or town, may be a pledge of taxes to be levied only upon taxable property within that portion of the county or metropolitan government lying outside the territorial limits of such special school district and/or incorporated city or town;
  6. In the case of a county or metropolitan government which contains within its boundaries an incorporated city or town which constructs and maintains its streets, avenues, alleys and other highways separate from the county or metropolitan government, the tax pledge authorized by subdivision (4), when pledged to the payment of bonds or notes issued to finance the construction of streets, avenues, alleys and other highways of the county or metropolitan government lying outside the territorial limits of such incorporated city or town may be a pledge of taxes to be levied only upon taxable property within that portion of the county or metropolitan government lying outside the territorial limits of such incorporated city or town;
  7. Assess, levy and collect ad valorem taxes on all taxable property within the local government or a portion of the local government, if applicable, sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds or notes issued to finance any public works project, except bonds or notes and the interest thereon payable exclusively from revenues of a public works project;
  8. Fix, levy and collect fees, rents, tolls or other charges for the use of or in connection with any public works project and, in the event any agreements with holders of bonds or notes shall have been made as hereinafter provided, to fix, levy and collect such fees, rents, tolls and other charges in accordance with and subject to such agreements. Such fees, rents, tolls and other charges may also include any revenues derived by a local government from a lease, agreement or contract with any other local government, local government instrumentality, the state, or state or federal agency for the use of or in connection with a public works project. The power to fix, levy, and collect such fees, rents, tolls, or other charges includes the power to impose charges for the privilege of parking motor vehicles in or upon any on-street or off-street parking facilities, and the power to facilitate the collection of such parking fees or other charges by the use of parking meters;
  9. Pledge all or any part of the fees, rents, tolls, or other charges received or receivable by the local government from any public works project or projects then existing or thereafter to be constructed, including also any revenues derived or to be derived by a local government from a lease, agreement or contract with any other local government, local government instrumentality, the state, or a state or federal agency for the use of or in connection with such public works project or projects, to the payment of all operating expenses of the public works project or projects, to the punctual payment of the principal of and interest on bonds or notes issued to finance such public works project or projects, or any other public works project or projects, or if the governing body of the local government shall by resolution so request, payments to the local government in lieu of ad valorem taxes on the property constituting such public works project or projects, not to exceed the amount of taxes payable on privately owned property of similar nature, and to covenant against thereafter pledging any such fees, rents, tolls, or charges to any other bonds or notes or any other obligations of the local government;
  10. Acquire by purchase, gift or the exercise of the right of eminent domain, to lease as lessor or lessee, and to hold, dispose of, and convey any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, or any right or interest in any such property, in connection with any public works project, whether or not subject to mortgages, liens, charges or other encumbrances, and to construct any public works project subject thereto. In the acquisition of public works projects, no governing body shall have the right to exercise the power of eminent domain with respect to real or personal property which has been dedicated to a public use, or which is at the time being so used, unless the owners or authorities having jurisdiction over the property agree to such acquisition. No governing body shall construct any structure of any type on or over any property which has been dedicated to public use, or which is at the time being so used, unless the owners or authorities having jurisdiction over the property agree to the construction of such structure. A local government may use any right-of-way, easement or other similar property right necessary or convenient in connection with the acquisition, improvement, operation or maintenance of a public works project held by the state or any other local government; provided, that the state or such other local government consents to such use;
  11. Enter on any lands, waters and premises for the purpose of making surveys, soundings and examinations in or for the furtherance of any public works project;
  12. Make contracts and execute instruments containing such terms, provisions and conditions as in the discretion of the governing body may be necessary, proper or advisable for the purpose of obtaining a grant, loan or other financial assistance from the state or any state or federal agency pursuant to a state or federal aid act; make all other contracts and execute all other instruments necessary, proper or advisable in or for the furtherance of any public works project; and carry out and perform the terms and conditions of all such contracts or instruments;
  13. Accept from any state or federal agency grants for or in aid of the construction of any public works project;
  14. Subscribe to and comply with any state or federal aid act and any rules and regulations made by the state or any state or federal agency with regard to any grants or loans, or both;
  15. Exercise, for the purpose of obtaining a grant, loan or other financial assistance from the state or any state or federal agency pursuant to or by virtue of any state or federal aid act, any power conferred by this chapter independently or in conjunction with any other power or powers conferred by this chapter or heretofore or hereafter conferred by any other law;
  16. Lease all or any portion of off-street parking facilities for the purpose of parking motor vehicles to any person, firm or corporation, for operation by such person, firm or corporation, and fix and collect rentals therefor and make contracts for the operation and management thereof. All revenues derived from any such lease or contract shall be regarded as fees, rents, tolls or other charges for the use of, or in connection with, the facilities;
  17. Lease all or any portion of urban transit facilities to any person, firm, or corporation, for operation by such person, firm or corporation, and to fix and collect rentals therefor and make contracts for the operation and management thereof, notwithstanding the fact that the local government may or may not then operate its own urban transit facilities. All revenues derived from any such lease or contract shall be regarded as fees, rents, tolls or other charges for the use of, or in connection with, the respective facilities;
  18. Combine all or any parts of parking facilities into a single public works project. Nothing contained in this chapter shall in any way affect the validity of any private act now existing or which may hereafter be enacted, prohibiting any local government from engaging in the public parking business;
  19. Provide for the replacement of lost, destroyed or mutilated bonds or notes;
  20. Perform any powers or duties authorized under this chapter through, or by means of, its own officers, agents and employees, or by contract with private corporations, firms or individuals;
  21. Designate one (1) or more areas that meet the requirements of § 1400U-1(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 1400U-1(b)) [repealed], as a recovery zone for purposes of that section; and
  22. Do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly given in this chapter.


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